A man from the Whittlesea area has paid $1,975.40 in fine and costs after tossing a burning cigarette butt into a car park at South Morang.
The Magistrate fined him $300 and ordered him to pay $1,675.40 for the cost of the prosecution. The man had pleaded not guilty to a charge of depositing litter, contrary to the Environment Protection Act.
The man had been smoking in the driver's seat of a car parked outside Woolworths South Morang on Saturday afternoon, 27 March 2021. A witness saw him throw the burning cigarette butt from the vehicle onto the ground where it was still smoking.
The witness reported the details, including the car's number plate and a description of the car and driver, to EPA's pollution hotline and offered to give evidence in court if necessary.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The case was heard in the Heidelberg Magistrates Court on 24 May 2022. The man pleaded not guilty.
Cigarette butts are the most common form of litter, many find their way into nearby waterways and the bay, and any burning cigarette butt creates a fire hazard.
EPA issued more than 8,500 infringement notices for littering during 2020/21.
Members of the public can report litter and other pollution by calling EPA's 24 hour hotline on 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842) or providing details online at epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/reporting-pollution
